12.10.2005 - Day Cut Short.

So this morning's run was cut short. And not by my doing. The path was so icy, half the team was sliding around like a flock of penguins (do penguins come in flocks?). The new spring team had a good showing, but of the 20-something folks on the winter team, 4 of us showed up...all of us being Phoenix-bound marathoners.

I guess I should backtrack...when I first pulled up to our meeting point I nearly died...someone had the bright idea to dump ALL of the snow from Chicago's snow plows into our one parking lot. I'm talking about this massive, mountain of gray slushy mushy gunk. It was quite the site to see. So we had all of our cars, all lined up in a row along the side. Everyone stayed in their cars until the last possible moment. I, for one, leaned my seat back and attempted to stretch with the heat going full blast. On top of that, I'm rocking out to Smashing Pumpkins (I'm sure that comes as a surprise).

After everyone piles out of their cars and huddles together in one massive bear hug, we learn that our game plan for the day has changed. The winter team no longer has 100 minutes...but only has to do an hour. While I'm thrilled at the news since it's so damn cold, in the back of my mind I am quite worried since I missed the 18-miler last week and didn't do any mid-week training since my back/hip was recovering.

I accept the hour challenge and take off. I start off with my intervals...4:1...going along my merry way....eyes down to avoid black ice...actually surprising myself with the notion of enjoying the cold, brisk weather. Time to run...I grab the water bottle from my fuel belt (otherwise it bounces out) and pick up the pace...everything's fine...

go back to walking...walking in the cold at 8am is quite the eye opener! If ya haven't tried it, you really should...it's exhilarating in thin running tights. Time to run again...and away I go past Judy and Larry...

slowing down, I generally feel pretty good...I think to myself...gee, my back isn't doing too bad! perhaps it's so cold out here, I've just numbed my entire body...

And so I pick up the pace to run again...and THADUNK DUNK. I've jinxed myself.
Terrible pain is shooting through my tailbone. Clearly, this is not good.

I pull off at the next snow plowed side section and stretch my body out. I did the fun "mid-run pressure stretches" that Amy, my PT at AthletiCo, showed me and went one my way...
yeeeeeeeeoooooooowwwwwwww!

Okay...so running...clearly out of the question. This is NOT going to fly at the rate I'm going at. So I walked the last 45 minutes. WALKED. And I have slowly come to terms with the fact that this Saturday, OUR BIG 20-MILER...will be walked. I am sooooooooooo not happy about this.

But I'm just focusing on the fact that regardless of how it happens, I will complete the distance. With 26.2 miles ahead of me in a little over a month, that last big distance day is key. It's so important to get it in. So I just have to buck up and go to town. I'll flip on my iPod, find my groove and just shake my tailfeather for 20 miles up and down the lake front. I think I'm going to show up early...around 6:45 or 7am to get ther first few miles done so the coaches don't have to wait around for my pokey butt to finish!

In other news, my pace buddy, Mary finished the Honolulu marathon in 7h10minutes. I've yet to hear her story, but I'm a bit nervous that it took her so long to cross the finish. I'm sure she had to walk most of the mountainous parts. I'm so proud of her for finishing! She's such an inspiration for me to just get out there and do it! Mary, like me, missed her 18-mile day.

...32 days and counting until my marathon. What the hell have I gotten myself into?